Memorial for Columbia crew still drawing crowds

Streams of mourners continue to visit a makeshift memorial in front of the Johnson Space Center honoring the seven astronauts killed in last month's space shuttle Columbia tragedy.

"The response has been truly remarkable," NASA spokesman John Ira Petty said. "We really appreciate and understand the emotions and thoughts of the people putting the items there. We're very grateful for their support."

Hartis described herself as a "good friend" of llan Ramon, the Israeli astronaut aboard Columbia, who she first met in 1998 through Kevin Chilton, a former astronaut.

"It's weird being here," said Hartis, 24, a student at Louisiana Tech University. "It's strange to come back and have all the memories and then see everything. I knew these people and I expect them to be here, but they're not. I can't believe this. It still hasn't sunk in."

Hartis said she last talked to Ramon eight months ago. She said they discussed friends and family.

"He was always so happy," Hartis said.

Three weeks ago, Hartis journeyed to Israel with Chilton. She left a teddy bear clutching a poem given to her by Ramon at a memorial near his grave.

Petty said the Johnson Space Center doesn't have any immediate plans for the memorial, which is filled with American flags, flowers and poems people have written.

"We're leaving most of the stuff in place," Petty said. "We have been removing items that are torn or deteriorating so they don't blow away and end up in the streets. We always try to preserve the sentiment of those items the best we can."

Petty said NASA is considering options for items left at the memorial.

"We're formulating plans," he said. "I just don't know what we're going to do right now."

Peter Arceneaux, a Lafayette, La., resident, came to the memorial with his family while in town to attend a Girl Scout function for his 10-year-old daughter, Bre, at nearby Space Center Houston.

"We just wanted to view everything," said Arceneaux, 35, an oilfield operator. "It's so, so sad, but it's also rather amazing. I didn't realize how many people cared."

Arceneaux said he and his family planned to purchase several mementoes from Space Center Houston and leave the items at the memorial.

"I'm here to pay tribute to the seven astronauts," said Gallegos, 24, an accounting technician. "I wanted to observe a moment of prayer for these heroes."

Gallegos struggled to express his emotions.

"I'm still shocked," he said. "It's really unbelievable."

Five-year-old Anna Chavanne, a League City resident, visited the memorial with her parents, Jamie and Doug Chavanne, and her 10-year-old brother, Austin.

In remembrance of the Columbia crew, she placed a dozen white roses along NASA's chain-link fence.

"It's pretty (here)," said Chavanne. "I like the flags because they have stars and red stripes and white stripes."

Jamie Chavanne, a League City homemaker, said she and her family decided to visit the memorial at the request of her son.

"We've been wanting to come out here for a long time to show our respects," said Chavanne, 40, who moved to League City with her family six months ago. "When it initially happened, it was so overwhelming and so sad that we had a hard time coming out here."

She praised the Columbia astronauts for their sacrifice.

"They've done their job here on earth," Chavanne said. "Now they can go home to God and rest."